Strange Noises Fiction by Rachel Greenham

“Oh I don’t believe it!” I exclaim, when we get within Sam’s earshot. I’ve been saving the exclamation ever since first seeing what she was doing on the beach with a group of the older flotilla children.

“What?” Sam calls back. I can see her grin from here, white teeth flashing. She knows very well what. She kicks the ball back towards one of the kids and comes jogging over as I run the boat onto the beach near where the little pink petal-boat is already resting. Lotan jumps out with the bow-rope and starts singlehandedly pulling the boat up the beach while I’m still in it, furling the lateen sail.

“When are you going to explain the offside rule?” Lotan asks as Sam reaches us.

“Never if I can help it. Never got it straight myself.” She grins. “Hey Lotan, how’d she get you to come out to play?”

“She used her subtle elvish magicks, of course.” He grins back. He’s cheered up already, I think, after the little time in the sun while we crossed to the shore.

“I asked if he wanted to,” I explain, finishing with the sail and stepping out of boat onto hot sand.

“Ohhhh, never thought of that.” She grins at me conspiratorally. Clearly she’s smart enough not to comment on Lotan and I being in each other’s company again, but I know she has questions waiting.

“Hey, you invented the bra!” Lotan suddenly exclaims, noticing the only upper-body garment Sam’s wearing. It’s red and styled just like a sports bra with laces at the front. I’m guessing her tunic is currently employed as a goalpost. With that and the loose-fitting linen trousers she’s got on, I think she looks beautiful. I know better than to say so though.

“Finally starting to get it right, you mean,” Sam replies to Lotan. “You do realise there’s no such thing as elastic, don’t you? Luckily I am a jay-nee-arse.” Grin.

“Don’t encourage her,” I warn Lotan. “She can talk about how she did it for two hours straight if you let her.”

“So you two joining in the game?”

“Not me!” I say quickly. I had enough of football at school. “Lotan will though.”

“What?”

“Yes you will. Where’s Ateis?” I add, to Sam.

“Went that way I think,” Sam says, pointing along the beach. “With a couple of other sprogs. Said she was going to look for buried treasure.”

“You should not have told her that story,” I admonish. “I’ll just go and check up on her then. You lot, don’t play too long. You know what they say about mad dogs and Englishmen. Just remember, if you get heatstroke we don’t have any ice.”

“Yes Mum,” Sam says.

“And put your hat back on!” I remind her, playing up to the joke now. “See? I have to too!” I add, pointing at my own sun-hat. I stick my tongue out at her and start heading along the beach.